100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4685

 

Introduced , by Rep. John Connor

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Reducing the Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children Act. Provides that a student or participant in a youth camp may possess and use a topical sunscreen product while on school property or at a school-sponsored event or activity or youth camp without a physician's note or prescription if certain conditions are met. Provides that a school district or youth camp shall allow a student or participant to use articles of sun-protective clothing outdoors. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, all schools districts shall incorporate in their curriculum a unit of instruction on skin cancer prevention. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning children.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title; references to Act.
5    (a) Short title. This Act may be cited as the Reducing the
6Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children Act.
7    (b) References to Act. This Act may be referred to as the
8SUNucate Law.
 
9    Section 5. Purpose. The General Assembly finds and declares
10the following:
11        (1) Many children are exposed to ultraviolet (UV)
12    radiation due to suboptimal sunscreen use and high rates of
13    sunburning and are therefore at risk of excessive UV
14    exposure, which could lead to skin cancer development. It
15    is a high priority to ensure that children can use
16    sunscreen and sun-protective clothing when outdoors.
17        (2) News outlets have reported that some schools do not
18    allow children to bring or use sunscreen without a
19    prescription due to medication bans and fears of legal
20    ramifications.
21        (3) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
22    believe that school policies that prohibit hats or student
23    possession of sunscreen can create barriers to the use of

 

 

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1    important sun protection methods.
2        (4) The United States Preventive Services Task Force
3    recommends educating children, adolescents, and young
4    adults on the dangers of sun exposure to reduce the risk of
5    skin cancer.
6        (5) It is in the public's interest that schools set
7    policies that include education on sun exposure and
8    encourage our youth to use sun protection, including
9    sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.
 
10    Section 10. Sun-protective measures in schools and youth
11camps.
12    (a) A student may possess and use a topical sunscreen
13product while on school property or at a school-sponsored event
14or activity without a physician's note or prescription if the
15product is approved by the United States Food and Drug
16Administration for over-the-counter use for the purpose of
17limiting ultraviolet light-induced skin damage.
18    (b) A participant in a youth camp may possess and use a
19topical sunscreen product while attending the camp without a
20physician's note or prescription if the product is approved by
21the United States Food and Drug Administration for
22over-the-counter use for the purpose of limiting ultraviolet
23light-induced skin damage.
24    (c) A school district or youth camp operator may allow
25school or youth camp personnel to assist students or

 

 

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1participants in applying a topical sunscreen product with
2parental permission.
3    (d) School or youth camp personnel may not be held liable
4in a criminal or civil action for application of a topical
5sunscreen product if the topical sunscreen product is available
6to and used by the student or camp participant in accordance
7with this Section.
8    (e) A school district or youth camp shall allow a student
9or participant to use articles of sun-protective clothing
10outdoors, including, but not limited to, hats. A school
11district or youth camp may set a policy related to the type of
12sun-protective clothing that will be allowed to be used
13outdoors under this subsection (e). Specific clothing
14determined by school or youth camp personnel to be
15inappropriate apparel may be prohibited by the policy.
 
16    Section 15. Sun-safe education. Beginning with the
172019-2020 school year, all school districts shall incorporate
18in their curriculum a unit of instruction on skin cancer
19prevention. The instruction shall be provided in an age
20appropriate manner and shall include, but is not limited to,
21the following components:
22        (1) the basic facts about skin cancer, including, but
23    not limited to, the negative impact of human exposure to
24    ultraviolet radiation obtained through sunburns and indoor
25    tanning; and

 

 

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1        (2) a comprehensive set of strategies and behaviors to
2    reduce the risk of contracting skin cancer, including, but
3    not limited to, the use of sunscreen and sun-protective
4    clothing.
 
5    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
6becoming law.